DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claims are being directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. With respect to claim 18, the claim recites the steps that direct towards an abstract idea can be done by a human without a practical application or significantly more. For example, a human can provide a device, provides a variable resistance, varying the resistance and detecting a chime controller. Other than reciting “device,” “know patterns”, “controller, “ operated to perform the recited steps, nothing in the claim precludes the above steps from being practically performed by a human, See MPEP 2106.04.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-17 are allowed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form.
Yu et al. (US 2025/0232650 A1) discloses an electronic door chime can meet safety standards and be compatible with doorbells. A new electronic door chime can safely powered doorbells and can be configured in a single gang box, while also being compatible with simple push button doorbell devices.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GERALD GAUTHIER whose telephone number is (571)272-7539. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, CAROLYN R EDWARDS can be reached at (571) 270-7136. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GERALD GAUTHIER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2692
July 16, 2026
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